The family hat. John bought it for Mom, in Mexico. Mom left it to me, in France. Marsha borrowed it in San Remo, and yesterday, while sitting out in the morning sun enjoying our coffee together, Dad asked: may I use your hat?
une nappe (nap)
: tablecloth, sheet (layer)
la nappe phréatique = ground water, water table
la nappe de mazout = oil slick
la nappe de brouillard = layer of fog
In English–nappe refers to either the ability of a liquid to "coat the back of a spoon" or the act of coating a food (i.e. to nappe a leg of lamb with glaze). —Wikipedia
While at the market in San Remo, my belle-mère Marsha saw this tablecloth. Les coquelicots! Poppies! It would be perfect for the faded metal table we use, on the front porch, where we have breakfast and dinner these days. Plus, it's plastified! You can use a sponge to clean it. And we did, when I spilled spaghetti sauce last night, and when my young friend and upcoming novelist–10-year-old Madeleine–spilled hot chocolate. These self-cleaning nappes are formidable!
That's all for today's word (more pictures below), you can read more about the word "nappe" in these stories from the French Word-A-Day archives:
brader = to discount
coussin = cushion
brusquer = to rush, hurry, hustle
Now for more photos of Italy, where we spent the weekend with Dad and Marsha…
Jean-Marc rinsing giant cherries in the fountain. He bought them at the market stall, after Marsha mentioned they were excellent for gout.
Who needs one more laundry photo? There are so many, but it's hard to resist! Clotheslines remind me of the slow life, simple times, and eco-friendliness. Plus, they force you outdoors, if only for the time it takes to etendre le linge or hang out the wash. Depending on zoning laws, it may be illegal to hang out your laundry in your neck of the woods!
My turn to wear the hat, and Dad has his trusty cap. Above, more laundry in the streets of San Remo, Italy.
I love window vignettes! You'll find hundreds of them on this blog, including this one from a 2006 blog post on "10 ways to say No! in French". If you are a pushover, like me, that'll be a helpful article to read!
Forward this edition to a friend, and help spread the French word. Thanks! For more words, buy the book.
A clever floor runner! We also saw these coffee sacks used as wall paper at a local wine bar in San Remo. Repurposing is alive and well in eco-friendly Italy. To comment on a photo, or text, click here.
Les poivrons, les haricots, de la laitue… peppers, beans, and lettuce in the hilltop village of Ceriana. The Italians love their produce and almost everywhere you look you'll find a kitchen garden.
The camera lens turns on the photographer. Jean-Marc's iPhone rivals my Nikon D-60. Look at the crispness of those stones!
Wonderful flowers outside what looked to be a nunnery facing this church.
At Il Ponte Restaurant where Jean-Marc and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Ten years later and we brought these sweethearts with us to enjoy an unforgettable meal. No menus at Il Ponte. Just sit down and let Sergio bring you course after course of Ligurian deliciousness!
Mr Sacks (Jean-Marc's side-kick ) came with us, of course! If only we had snuck a Tupperwear inside, we could have brought home leftovers!
Jean-Marc and my dad. Time to drive home to France. Will the market lettuce (lots of baby romaine to plant) make the three-hour trip?
Did you enjoy your virtual travel to Liguria? It's not far from Nice, so next time you are in France why not cross the border and wander up to the magical hills of Italy's hinterland?
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Napper, le verbe, a la mème signification en français et en anglais : Recouvrir d’une sauce ou d’un coulis ou d’une autre préparation onctueuse.
Napper, le verbe, a la mème signification en français et en anglais : Recouvrir d’une sauce ou d’un coulis ou d’une autre préparation onctueuse.
What an excellent vacation it appears you enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to put smiles on 42,784 faces today! Kristin, you just get better and better with every posting .. FWAD is truly a treat for the mind & soul. Aloha!
What an excellent vacation it appears you enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to put smiles on 42,784 faces today! Kristin, you just get better and better with every posting .. FWAD is truly a treat for the mind & soul. Aloha!
I love Liguria. As a child, I spent a summers there, once in the hilltop village of Bussana, just 7 km. east of San Remo, once in a summer camp in Camogli, east of Genova, and other times in Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Porto Fino. The Riviera del Ponente ( west of Genova) and the Riviera del Levante ( East of Genova) both offer unforgettable experiences. Your photos capture the spirit of San Remo and brought back wonderful memories. Felicitations!
I love Liguria. As a child, I spent a summers there, once in the hilltop village of Bussana, just 7 km. east of San Remo, once in a summer camp in Camogli, east of Genova, and other times in Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Porto Fino. The Riviera del Ponente ( west of Genova) and the Riviera del Levante ( East of Genova) both offer unforgettable experiences. Your photos capture the spirit of San Remo and brought back wonderful memories. Felicitations!
Hi Kristin,
Cute photo of your dad on the porch. What is the title of the book on the table? I love the plastic coated tablecloths! I have one decorated with lavender!
Pretty photos of Liguria. I love the shrine above the archway in the 5th photo.
Hi Kristin,
Cute photo of your dad on the porch. What is the title of the book on the table? I love the plastic coated tablecloths! I have one decorated with lavender!
Pretty photos of Liguria. I love the shrine above the archway in the 5th photo.
Wow, looks like a beautiful place! And your photos capture the place and people so well. I really love how you shoot people as they are and don’t pose everything just perfectly. Brava!
Julia
Wow, looks like a beautiful place! And your photos capture the place and people so well. I really love how you shoot people as they are and don’t pose everything just perfectly. Brava!
Julia
Kristin,
Beautiful pictures, as usual!
Happy Anniversary to you and Jean Marc!
Bisous,
Amber
Kristin,
Beautiful pictures, as usual!
Happy Anniversary to you and Jean Marc!
Bisous,
Amber
Thanks so much for the virtual tour Kristi…
I (with my husband) will be making out first trip to Italy next month…really looking forward to it. We will finish up in Paris (my favorite city in the world ..so far)wish we could pop by and see your part of the country …but sadly , not enough time..Will continue to join you and your family for our little visits though and pick up more vocab in Francais as an added bonus.
Love your photography !!
Thanks so much for the virtual tour Kristi…
I (with my husband) will be making out first trip to Italy next month…really looking forward to it. We will finish up in Paris (my favorite city in the world ..so far)wish we could pop by and see your part of the country …but sadly , not enough time..Will continue to join you and your family for our little visits though and pick up more vocab in Francais as an added bonus.
Love your photography !!
I love it that your father, in this blog, looks as if he is having a lovely nappe!!! Haha.
I love it that your father, in this blog, looks as if he is having a lovely nappe!!! Haha.
As a Francophile I don’t understand why anyone would leave France for a vacation! But wherever you go, Kristin, beauty follows you, and you find beauty as you focus your lens. I love the photos of French doorways, but your best subjects are people. You bring out the soul in them. You see it in their eyes or smile or even beneath the family hat. I have followed you more years than I can remember. I am a true fan. Come to Atlanta the next time you are out selling your books. We have a big book fair in Decatur (just outside Atlanta) once a year. That would be a great time to come.
As a Francophile I don’t understand why anyone would leave France for a vacation! But wherever you go, Kristin, beauty follows you, and you find beauty as you focus your lens. I love the photos of French doorways, but your best subjects are people. You bring out the soul in them. You see it in their eyes or smile or even beneath the family hat. I have followed you more years than I can remember. I am a true fan. Come to Atlanta the next time you are out selling your books. We have a big book fair in Decatur (just outside Atlanta) once a year. That would be a great time to come.
Love your photography. your family photos.
But, would like now to see the locals and hear their stories. Thanks for the French
though some of it may be hard to work into
a conversation. Yes, I have passed you on
to other Frenchies. merci bien.
Love your photography. your family photos.
But, would like now to see the locals and hear their stories. Thanks for the French
though some of it may be hard to work into
a conversation. Yes, I have passed you on
to other Frenchies. merci bien.
Thank you for all the voyeuristic pleasure, plus the wonderful photos and commentary. Now for a general question: What is the “policy”, informal and formal, on “doggie bags” in France and Italy. We often leave wonderful morsels on our plates because it seems brut to ask for a take-out.
Thank you for all the voyeuristic pleasure, plus the wonderful photos and commentary. Now for a general question: What is the “policy”, informal and formal, on “doggie bags” in France and Italy. We often leave wonderful morsels on our plates because it seems brut to ask for a take-out.
I so enjoy your posts! I get a little trip to start my day with you and your family. I enjoy you writing and have forwarded various posts to friends. Keep them coming!
Merci! Deb
I so enjoy your posts! I get a little trip to start my day with you and your family. I enjoy you writing and have forwarded various posts to friends. Keep them coming!
Merci! Deb
The photos are gorgeous and I’d give plenty to be there right now. But, fact is, it’s not St. Remo, it’s San Remo. (Yes, it’s St. Rémy de Provence, but that’s short for Saint Rémy.) All the :sainted” Italia towns are San or Sa (abbreviation for Santa).
The photos are gorgeous and I’d give plenty to be there right now. But, fact is, it’s not St. Remo, it’s San Remo. (Yes, it’s St. Rémy de Provence, but that’s short for Saint Rémy.) All the :sainted” Italia towns are San or Sa (abbreviation for Santa).
I am living vicariously through your beautiful photos. Such a lovely way to start my day! Couldn’t help but notice — Jean Marc is wearing the shoes (dark green mocs)that he just bought.
Happy anniversary!
I am living vicariously through your beautiful photos. Such a lovely way to start my day! Couldn’t help but notice — Jean Marc is wearing the shoes (dark green mocs)that he just bought.
Happy anniversary!
Bonjour,
Great photos BUT the one of you carrying your Nikon gives me chills. Please wrap the neck strap around your wrist if you insist on carrying your camera that way. Other wise you are looking for an accident or trouble to happen. One bump or little slip and the camera will have a shorter life than planned. No camera does well after it is inadvertenly dropped on the hard ground.
In the unlikely event you are in a city that has some “opportunists” for a snatch and grab, it would be very easy to come up from behind you and grab the dangling neck strap and run away. They could be 5 meters away by the time you could react.
Just some friendly adise from a reader that truly respects you and appreciates you work.
Dennis
San Francisco
Bonjour,
Great photos BUT the one of you carrying your Nikon gives me chills. Please wrap the neck strap around your wrist if you insist on carrying your camera that way. Other wise you are looking for an accident or trouble to happen. One bump or little slip and the camera will have a shorter life than planned. No camera does well after it is inadvertenly dropped on the hard ground.
In the unlikely event you are in a city that has some “opportunists” for a snatch and grab, it would be very easy to come up from behind you and grab the dangling neck strap and run away. They could be 5 meters away by the time you could react.
Just some friendly adise from a reader that truly respects you and appreciates you work.
Dennis
San Francisco
I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your trip to Liguria. I was born in Italy, but I have never been to Liguria, not yet any way! Keep up the good work and the pictures!
I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your trip to Liguria. I was born in Italy, but I have never been to Liguria, not yet any way! Keep up the good work and the pictures!
I, too, am curious to know what your father is reading there on the table. I don’t know if we’re insatiable readers or just nosy! But do tell. Thanks.
Chris
I, too, am curious to know what your father is reading there on the table. I don’t know if we’re insatiable readers or just nosy! But do tell. Thanks.
Chris
Looks like le chapeau went full circle! I want some of those coffee bags! I have been looking for decent ones that are inexpensive. And you can never have enough photos of laundry hanging in Italy. Just like you can’t have enough of windows and doors. Or Farmers markets of which I am about to head out to to photograph and buy some peaches and rasberries. Maybe some fresh cheese and honey and have a couple of oysters for lunch. I have a couple of uses for them. Living on the coast in California one forgets the closeness of another state let alone another country. How can it take only 3 hours to get from Bandol to Italy? Is there a super highway?
Looks like le chapeau went full circle! I want some of those coffee bags! I have been looking for decent ones that are inexpensive. And you can never have enough photos of laundry hanging in Italy. Just like you can’t have enough of windows and doors. Or Farmers markets of which I am about to head out to to photograph and buy some peaches and rasberries. Maybe some fresh cheese and honey and have a couple of oysters for lunch. I have a couple of uses for them. Living on the coast in California one forgets the closeness of another state let alone another country. How can it take only 3 hours to get from Bandol to Italy? Is there a super highway?
Hey maybe I do not have to spray paint my furniture this year, just buy a great table cloth! great foto of your dad. Lucky you.
Hey maybe I do not have to spray paint my furniture this year, just buy a great table cloth! great foto of your dad. Lucky you.
For some reason I thought Bandol was on the Atlantic. So now that I see where it is I see why it only takes 3 hours to go to Italy.
For some reason I thought Bandol was on the Atlantic. So now that I see where it is I see why it only takes 3 hours to go to Italy.
Oh, yes! Enjoyed this virtual travel immensely! As always, thank you for sharing.
Oh, yes! Enjoyed this virtual travel immensely! As always, thank you for sharing.
Delightful! Your adventures are as much vicarious fun as a summer movie set in France or Italy.
Delightful! Your adventures are as much vicarious fun as a summer movie set in France or Italy.
Our dear Kristi,
What absolutely glorious pictures! Starting with the (now family!) hat and taking us along with all of you on this wonderful trip!No better way to be an arm chair tourist! Or start the weekend!
THANK YOU!!
Love, Natalia XO
PS Completely refreshing to see beautiful you in that pink jacket! It is SO hot here in the West that it’s nice to remember what cooler weather is like!
Our dear Kristi,
What absolutely glorious pictures! Starting with the (now family!) hat and taking us along with all of you on this wonderful trip!No better way to be an arm chair tourist! Or start the weekend!
THANK YOU!!
Love, Natalia XO
PS Completely refreshing to see beautiful you in that pink jacket! It is SO hot here in the West that it’s nice to remember what cooler weather is like!
Darling Kristi,
I adore all of the photos of you and your Dad – I especially like the one of Kip & Jean-Marc with the lettuce, they both look so happy. I am on my 5th painting in five days – trying to paint my way to understanding how to do portraits of you… I have now added this great photo of Kip and JM to my list.
By the way – all of those photos you took off of my camera in France will not download…what has happened.
XOXO
MOM
Darling Kristi,
I adore all of the photos of you and your Dad – I especially like the one of Kip & Jean-Marc with the lettuce, they both look so happy. I am on my 5th painting in five days – trying to paint my way to understanding how to do portraits of you… I have now added this great photo of Kip and JM to my list.
By the way – all of those photos you took off of my camera in France will not download…what has happened.
XOXO
MOM
Kristi,
Do you remember the “family hat” you inherited when I accompanied you and your dad to visit family (your grandmother?) back in 1990? I have photos of you in that hat which greatly resembled the hat in today’s photos. One of those walks down memory lane…
Thanks for sharing more of Italy with us. Enjoy your weekend!
Kristi,
Do you remember the “family hat” you inherited when I accompanied you and your dad to visit family (your grandmother?) back in 1990? I have photos of you in that hat which greatly resembled the hat in today’s photos. One of those walks down memory lane…
Thanks for sharing more of Italy with us. Enjoy your weekend!